Arkansas House picks Jeremy Gillam as speaker LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The Arkansas House selected another Republican as its speaker in a secret ballot Wednesday, despite several lawmakers' concerns about a possible repeat of what happened two years ago in a closely divided chamber. State Rep. Jeremy Gillam, of Judsonia, won the House speaker's office with 57 votes, picking up six more votes than needed to win the post. He defeated three other House members, Republican Kim Hammer, of Benton; Re...

Boozman visits with studentsU.S. Sen. John Boozman (R) was in Russellville on Wednesday to meet with constituents, including a stop by Arkansas Tech University to speak to students about his work in Washington, D.C. The senator, who was elected in 2010 after serving since 2001 as the representative from Arkansas' Third Congressional District, spoke briefly about his work and activities as a legislator before turning the floor over to students to ask questions. Boozman sa...

US judge denies new hearing in Mueller slayings LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A federal judge has rejected a request for a new hearing for an Oklahoma man on federal death row for the slayings of an Arkansas family. U.S. District Judge Leon Holmes ruled Tuesday that Danny Lee of Yukon, Okla., needed to obtain authorization from the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to file another petition challenging his death sentence. Lee was convicted in federal court in the 1996 slayings of gun dealer William Mue...

Some speaker hopefuls want race delayed LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Some candidates running for Arkansas' House speaker position said they would like to see the race pushed back until they know who has won the chamber's majority in the November election. The vote is now set for Wednesday, when the Legislature meets to formally adjourn the fiscal session. Those who support a delay point to the 2012 speaker's race, when Democratic state Rep. Darrin Williams, of Little Rock, was elected to the ...

Arkansas is coordinator for national emergencies NORTH LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas has been named the National Coordinating State for the Emergency Management Assistance Compact — or EMAC. The designation means the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management is responsible for monitoring nationwide events and the EMAC Operations System to make sure requests for assistance are met in a timely manner. The designation is based on the home state of the Executive Task Force Chair for EMAC and sta...

'Private option' overshadows GOP primariesLITTLE ROCK (AP) — A candidate for state treasurer calls his opponent a "floor leader for Obamacare" and a state auditor hopeful accuses his rival of supporting the president's health care law multiple times in the Legislature. Running for a state Senate seat, a Republican says the incumbent he's trying to unseat wasn't there for voters when they needed someone to oppose a compromise Medicaid expansion. Attacks on the president's health care o...

US judge strikes Arkansas' 12-week abortion ban LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A federal judge Friday struck down Arkansas' attempt to ban most abortions beginning 12 weeks into a woman's pregnancy, saying viability, not a heartbeat, remains the key factor in determining whether abortions should be allowed. U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright last year had stopped enforcement of the law while she reviewed it, and on Friday she declared that it was unconstitutional. She cited previous court decision...

Report: Childhood obesity still high in Arkansas LITTLE ROCK (AP) — While Arkansas children are more likely to receive immunizations and dental care than they were seven years ago, a report released Thursday highlighted the need for them to receive better access to medical care, nutritious meals and health education. The report shows Arkansas still has progress to make in reducing childhood obesity rates, residents' food insecurity, teenage birth rates and motor vehicle fatalities. Arkansas ...

Report due on Arkansas children's health LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A report compiled from several organizations on the health of Arkansas children is due to be released Thursday in Little Rock. The report, titled "Natural Wonders: The State of Children's Health in Arkansas" will chart how the state has done since an update in 2011, and outline which areas still need attention. The 2011 update noted a decline in the number of women receiving prenatal care, but also a decline in the rate of b...

Federal jury convicts former Arkansas treasurer LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A jury convicted former Arkansas Treasurer Martha Shoffner of federal bribery and extortion charges Tuesday, saying her acceptance of $36,000 from a bond trader who did business with the state was a felony rather than just a lapse in ethical judgment. Shoffner wept quietly at the defense table before the jurors, who deliberated for about three hours, returned to the courtroom. But the former Democratic official regained her ...

Arkansas lawmakers approve $5B budget measure LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas lawmakers approved a $5 billion budget on Tuesday that boosts funding for public schools and prisons as the Legislature neared the end of a session that's been dominated by debate about the state's compromise Medicaid expansion. The House and Senate passed identical versions of the budget legislation, formally known as the proposed Revenue Stabilization Act. Both chambers are expected to give final approval to the b...

Rand Paul wins CPAC presidential straw poll OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — She was not on the speaking program, but Hillary Rodham Clinton had presence at the nation's largest annual gathering of conservative activists on Saturday, as high-profile Republicans launched a dual effort to attack the prospective Democratic presidential candidate and improve the GOP's longstanding struggle with women voters. It was the closing act of a Republican summit that highlighted acute challenges for a party th...

Broker says treasurer took $6K at Arkansas Capitol LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A bond broker who managed a large share of Arkansas' investments said in federal court Friday he felt sorry for the former state treasurer when she was going through a rough patch and gave her money to help her with her troubles. Martha Shoffner, 69, is named in 14 counts alleging bribery and extortion. Prosecutors allege she directed a significant amount of the state's business to broker Steele Stephens in return for $36,00...

Arkansas lawmakers advance $5B budget bill LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas' public schools would receive the largest funding increase and the state's reserve fund would get $19 million under a $5 billion budget plan that lawmakers advanced Friday. The Joint Budget Committee endorsed the state's budget bill, formally known as the proposed Revenue Stabilization Act, as they neared the end of this year's legislative session. The House and Senate are expected to vote on identical versions of t...

Arkansas lawmakers whittle down surplus requests LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas lawmakers advanced a plan Thursday to tap nearly $22 million from the surplus to pay for the prison system, school broadband and other one-time needs as they got their first look at legislation detailing the state's $5 billion budget. Legislation endorsed by the Joint Budget Committee whittled down the list of more than $92 million in projects that Gov. Mike Beebe and lawmakers had wanted to fund using the state's p...

Lawmakers get first look at budget bill LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Legislation outlining Arkansas' $5 billion budget for the coming year calls for boosts in funding for the state's public schools and prisons. Legislative leaders on Thursday night released the state's budget bill, formally known as the Revenue Stabilization Act, as they move closer toward wrapping up this year's session. The bill is scheduled to go before the Joint Budget Committee on Friday, with House and Senate votes expe...

Witnesses portray Shoffner as cranky, demanding LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Federal prosecutors drew testimony Thursday from current and former Arkansas treasurer's office employees about how the state missed profit opportunities by selling bonds early and angry outbursts by former Treasurer Martha Shoffner, who is accused of illegally accepting $36,000 from a bond dealer. The government also worked to block part of Shoffner's lawyer's trial strategy. In opening statements, attorney Chuck Banks told...

Arkansas judge's online comments investigated LITTLE ROCK (AP) — An Arkansas judge has admitted that he posted a series of anonymous online comments that critics say are racist, sexist and otherwise inappropriate, including one in which he revealed alleged details of confidential proceedings involving actress Charlize Theron's adoption of her son. Circuit Judge Mike Maggio acknowledged Wednesday that he posted the comments on a Louisiana State University fan message board, Tiger Droppings...

Hearing set on Arkansas response to winter storm LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas legislators are set to discuss highway officials' response to a winter storm that left drivers stranded on icy Arkansas interstates earlier this week. Sen. Bill Sample, chairman of the Senate's Transportation Committee, says the joint meetings are set for Tuesday and Wednesday. Two senators requested that the transportation committees meet after motorists were stranded overnight for hours on Interstates 55 and 40 in...

Arkansas officials eye changes to Medicaid plan LITTLE ROCK (AP) — With Arkansas' model plan to use Medicaid funds to purchase private insurance for the poor spared for another year, backers of the nationally watched program are now focusing on changes that will be needed to keep it alive in the future. State officials and architects of the "private option" said Wednesday they'll spend the coming weeks focusing on proposals Arkansas must submit to the federal government to alter a program t...